Dorian Gray is based on a character created by Oscar Wilde and is the main character in the 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. The character is a hedonist who sells his soul for eternal life and beauty. In contrast to this, a portrait of himself continues to age, whereas Dorian remains young.

The Firstborn is the main antagonist of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. He is a reanimated human composed of the stitched together body parts of corpses and brought to life through a mysterious chemical process developed by Victor Frankenstein.

Profanity: Moderate use of strong profanity is used throughout the episode. It becomes excessively vulgar during the scene in which Vanessa Ives is possessed. Repeated use of the words "fuck" and "cunt".

Dorian Gray: You do not belong here. Even less than I. You are not frivolous. Your eye is careful and appraising. This is not a careful room, although there is much to appraise. That can divert you for only so long. You do not like it here. You are closed to it. Yet... you're the only woman in this house not wearing gloves. Your hands want to touch, but your head wants to appraise. Your heart is torn between the two. You were skeptical because you thought... this was going to be a wasted evening, but now you're not so sure.